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Should I trust my GPS system?

We've all heard the horror stories, a man trusts his GPS and ends up in a lake, someone else trusts theirs and ends up in the wrong state etc, so should we really trust our GPS navigator to get us to where we want to go? Here are some tips to make sure you get the most out of your unit:

- It is only an aid: The GPS unit is there to assist you, and it is a computer which can make mistakes, so don't put all your trust in this unit, make sure you are looking at where it is taking you, make sure you look at roadsigns etc to avoid that lake which is up ahead… It is harder at night I appreciate, but by keeping an eye on the roadsigns and more importantly on the road, and maybe letting the voice commands guide you rather than looking at the screen constantly, then you can minimise your risk of a crash or going wildly off course.

- Get it to recalculate: These units are designed to compensate if you take a wrong turn, then they recalculate your route and guide you another way. This can be used to your advantage, if you don't like the little farm road it is trying to force you down, then stay on the main road instead and get it to recalculate for you, you'll often find it then sorts itself out and gives you a better route to follow.

- Take maps too: I know this seems like the wrong thing to do, but you shouldn't always place your faith in an electronic device, what if it breaks? Or what if it runs out of juice? I was in the car with my brother the other week and his GPS ran out of battery when we were searching for a restaurant, and he didn't have the charger with him. So there we were in a strange city with no navigation, until I took out the map I'd printed off their website earlier in the day, then we were able to get there and have a nice dinner. So maps are a backup, if you are lost on a dark road in the middle of the night and your GPS stops working, you'll be glad you have any kind of map to guide you.

- Look up reviews: Some units are better than other, look up reviews on places like Amazon.com and see what people are saying, if a number of people are saying the unit got them lost or doesn't choose good routes, then move on.

- Keep maps up to date: There is little point having a GPS if you don't keep the core of it, the maps, up to date. Cities and roads are always changing, and unless you keep your maps up to date then you may find yourself screaming at the screen as it tries to take you down a route which you can't get down anymore. Update the maps weekly, or at least monthly, to keep yourself ahead of the game.

Those tips should help keep you safe and get you to your destination, remember to investigate the units before you buy, that can save you a lot of hassle before you part with any money.